// troubleshooting guide · zed
Zed Won't Start or Crashes on Launch
- Status
- Workaround available
- platforms:
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- updated:
- November 15, 2026
- reports:
- 3
- Method
- how we research
RUNBOOK · zed/wont-start-reset-database3 FIXES
// quick answer
Moving the workspace database aside often fixes startup failures.
Most likely fix: Reset database
How to fix it
// try these in order, the most common fix is first
FIX 1Reset database
- 01Quit Zed
- 02Move the db folder (macOS ~/Library/Application Support/Zed/db, Linux ~/.local/share/zed/db, Windows %LOCALAPPDATA%\Zed\db)
- 03Restart
Did this fix it?FIX 2Read the log
- 01macOS ~/Library/Logs/Zed/Zed.log; Windows C:\Users\YOU\AppData\Local\Zed\logs\Zed.log
Did this fix it?FIX 3Check graphics (Linux)
- 01Run vkcube
Did this fix it?
Symptoms
Zed crashes or hangs at launch.
Why it happens
- C-01Corrupt workspace database
- C-02GPU init failure
// this guide also covers
- zed won't open
- zed crashes on startup
- zed not opening
Still not working?
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- Zed Blank or Invisible Window on Linux
- Zed Slow on Linux Laptop (Using Wrong GPU)
- Zed Too Many Open Files Error on Linux
- Zed High CPU Usage or Freezing
- Zed Wrong Scaling on High-DPI Linux (X11)
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